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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Selenium

Porter SUD

Selenium is an essential element in diets. But too much selenium can decrease thyroid hormone production and cause hair loss, skin lesions and brittle fingernails.

 

14

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014N/A00N/A
2015N/A00N/A
2016ND50ND
2017ND40ND
2018N/A00N/A
2019ND50ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 30 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 30 ppb for selenium was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against hair loss and nail damage.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 50 ppb

The legal limit for selenium, established in 1991, was based on human epidemiological studies of populations exposed to naturally occurring selenium in drinking water. This limit does not include any additional consideration of children’s health.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2016-01-12AD17497ND
2016-01-12AD17492ND
2016-01-12AD17494ND
2016-01-12AD17493ND
2016-01-12AD17498ND
2017-01-19AD65645ND
2017-01-19AD65644ND
2017-01-19AD65647ND
2017-06-26AD87767ND
2019-01-23AE50875ND
2019-01-23AE50871ND
2019-01-23AE50873ND
2019-01-23AE50872ND
2019-01-23AE50874ND